Submitted by Bill Schetrompf on 7/1/99. ( LSchetrompf@aol.com )
I have a problem with squirrel tail hair slippage. I use Lutan F on my squirrel. The Body turns out great, but for some reason my tail slips hair. I would say 1 out of 3 squirrels have this problem. I sure would appreciate any infomation on whats going on and how to prevent it so I'm not spending so much time repairing.
This response submitted by John Bellucci on 7/2/99. ( ArtistExpr@aol.com )
Hello Bill,
Hmmm, sounds like "Raw Tail Syndrome" ... hey, EVERYTHING has a syndrome these days, so why not this ... right?
Anyway, quite simply, the "tube" of the tail skin, is collapsing in on itself, and no preservative agent is getting into this area, essentially leaving the tail skin in a raw state.
The remedy? After all skinning and fleshing is complete, thread a six-inch cape needle with "wrapping twine", basically the kind of string bakeries use around a box of baked goods. Be sure it's double the length of the tail and body combined.
Next, carefully work the cape needle down into the tail skin, letting it emerge just BEFORE the tail tip. Pull the needle until the string appears and remove the needle from the string. Pull on one end of the string only, bringing that end all the way out the tail tip. You now have a "wick" of sorts running through the squirrels' tail.
I now cut a half-inch or so slit in the underside of the tail where the string exits using a sharp scalpel blade, back towards the body. This allows you to apply salt into the tail skin from the base, working it in as much as you can by rolling the tail skin between the fingers. Next draw the string back and forth until salt begins to appear at the slit near the tail tip. Allow the skin to drain a few hours -- 3 or so -- and let the tail hang so it can drain as well.
When you pickle the skin (and you should), use a mild acid like citric acid or the new "Saftee Acid" from Rittel's ... these are less harsh to squirrel skins. Let the pickle get into the tail skin well, by again drawing the string back and forth. This will not only get out the excess salt, but it will insure the pickle gets all the way through the tail skin!
After pickling and neutralizing the skin, use the "draw-string" method for getting your tanning agent into and through the tail as well. When you're ready to mount the squirrel, rinse off the skin, including the tail, as you remove the entire string, flushing out the inner tail skin a bit.
Mount as usual, and you shouldn't have any more problems!
Best regards and good luck to you ... John B.
This response submitted by John Bellucci on 7/2/99. ( ArtistExpr@aol.com )
Hello Bill,
Hmmm, sounds like "Raw Tail Syndrome" ... hey, EVERYTHING has a syndrome these days, so why not this ... right?
Anyway, quite simply, the "tube" of the tail skin, is collapsing in on itself, and no preservative agent is getting into this area, essentially leaving the tail skin in a raw state.
The remedy? After all skinning and fleshing is complete, thread a six-inch cape needle with "wrapping twine", basically the kind of string bakeries use around a box of baked goods. Be sure it's double the length of the tail and body combined.
Next, carefully work the cape needle down into the tail skin, letting it emerge just BEFORE the tail tip. Pull the needle until the string appears and remove the needle from the string. Pull on one end of the string only, bringing that end all the way out the tail tip. You now have a "wick" of sorts running through the squirrels' tail.
I now cut a half-inch or so slit in the underside of the tail where the string exits using a sharp scalpel blade, back towards the body. This allows you to apply salt into the tail skin from the base, working it in as much as you can by rolling the tail skin between the fingers. Next draw the string back and forth until salt begins to appear at the slit near the tail tip. Allow the skin to drain a few hours -- 3 or so -- and let the tail hang so it can drain as well.
When you pickle the skin (and you should), use a mild acid like citric acid or the new "Saftee Acid" from Rittel's ... these are less harsh to squirrel skins. Let the pickle get into the tail skin well, by again drawing the string back and forth. This will not only get out the excess salt, but it will insure the pickle gets all the way through the tail skin!
After pickling and neutralizing the skin, use the "draw-string" method for getting your tanning agent into and through the tail as well. When you're ready to mount the squirrel, rinse off the skin, including the tail, as you remove the entire string, flushing out the inner tail skin a bit.
Mount as usual, and you shouldn't have any more problems!
Best regards and good luck to you ... John B.
This response submitted by Leanna on 7/2/99. ( scardeer@cornernet.com )
Or you could split the tail from base to tip on the underside and rub salt in that way, as well as tanning agent later. ONLY if you dont want to spend that much time on Johns more than superb manner of doing it.
This response submitted by John Bellucci on 7/2/99. ( Artistexpr@aol.com )
... you'll spend even more time in the final sewing up of the tail... if you don't want the stitches to show. In reality gang, it takes MUCH longer to explain it and type it out, than it does to actually just do it.